kurkumeli



No. 624,948. Patented may 49,4899.

s. KunKuMELI'. FENDER `FR VESSELS. l (Applicationmed sept. 1e, 189s.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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i NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IW'AN G. KURKUMELI, OEKERTSCH, RUSSIA.

FENDER FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,948, dated May 16, 1899. Application filed September 16,1898- Seral No. 691,093. (N0 model-l To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IWAN GRIGORIEWITSCH KURKUMELI, sea captain, a subject of the Emperor of Russia, and a resident of Kertsch, in the Empire of Russia, have invented a certain new and -useful Improved Apparatus for Preventing Vessels Being Damaged by a' Collision, of which the following is an exact, full, and clear description.

This invention relates to a bufng appara= tus for lessening or weakening the effect of the shock sustained by vessels in collision, such bufng apparatus having several hinged bufferepads or cushions which are situated in an ineffectual position on a supporting-frame inclined upward over the fore part of the vesL sel and are secured to such frame by means of a locking device. guided along the supporting-frame by means of flanges, so that they slide off this frame as soon as the locking mechanism is released. The bottom of the buer-padsis recessed, and the form of the side walls of this recess 4corresponds to the form of the side Walls of the bow, so that the buffer-pads on sliding down over the bow embrace the stem and are closely attached thereto.

In the accompanying drawings is shown al bufiing apparatus in accordance with my invention.

Figure l is a side elevation. F ig. 2 is a plan vieW of the fore part of a vessel provided with the said apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a section on line A B of Fig. l of the construction of a buffer-pad.

Each buer-pad consists of several circularly-bent hoops a of sheet metal or the like, the ends c of such hoops being bent together and led into U-shaped rails of a frame d, which is secured to the sides of the vessel by hinges m, and at its free end carries a roller n for a rope, by means of which it is'held in an `upwardly-inclined position. Each hoop a. of the buffer-pads is provided with a suitable padding. The hoops may, for instance,

be covered with Wire-netting and cushioned with felt and also lined with packing of, cork, sea-grass, and the like.

On the 'innermost The buffer-pads are The buer-pads are pivotally connected together by means of a chain e or in any other suitable manner. As soon as the locking device is released the buffer-pads slide off the frame d and pass onto the stem, so that theyV assume the position as shown in Fig. l in dotted lines, Where they render the shock re= sulting from a collision uninjurious or considerably decrease the effect of such shock.

Having now particularly described and as# certained the nature of the said invention', I declare that what I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is`

l. In combination with the vessel, a frame extending from the bow upwardly and rear- Wardly in inclined position, buffer means supported on said frame, and adapted to slide down by gravity when released, a locking device to hold the buer in position and means for releasing the locking device, substantially as described. i

2. In combination, the flexible chain, the

buffers held thereby, a locking device forl holding the chain with its buffers out of operative position and a pawl with' a rope for operating the same to release the lock, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a supporting-frame and a bufiing device in which the buer-pads consist of bent hoops of elastic material, padding being provided between the hoops whose ends are bent together and guided in rails of the supporting-frame substantially as described and shown in the drawings.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

I. G. KURKMELI.

Witnesses:

Tiros. E. HEENAN, THOMAS MILES. 

